Bank of Ireland says trading in line with expectations

Bank of Ireland said it has been profitable so far this year, and that trading has been in line with its expectations for 2014.

In a trading update, the bank reported higher margins on new lending, but said that repayments continued to exceed the level of new loans handed out as demand for credit remained muted.

"The macroeconomic environment and outlook in Ireland and the UK, which are our key markets, are continuing to improve in 2014", the trading statement - issued ahead of its annual general meeting today - added.

The bank reported higher margins on new lending, and said it is actively seeking new lending opportunities "of the appropriate credit quality and at appropriate levels of return".

Its net interest margin - a measure of the profitability of its lending - inched up to 2.05% in the first three months of the year from 2.03% in the second half of 2013 after substantial rises over the last 18 months.

Analysts described the NIM as disappointing, with Goodbody Stockbrokers saying they had expected a NIM of about 3%.

Today's trading update also revealed that loan volumes fell to €83.3 billion at the end of March from €84.5 billion at the end of December, a broadly similar pace of contraction to the second half of 2013.

"We have the capital, liquidity and infrastructure available to support our growth objectives in our core businesses," today's trading statement said.

BoI shareholders unhappy with management pay levels

Speaking at today's AGM, Bank of Ireland shareholder Dermot Carroll said the bank is the most "cruel and relentless" for going after defaulting borrowers.

Meanwhile, shareholder William Malone described Mr Boucher's salary as a disgraceful amount of money. But the bank's management defended its policy on pay and said that the CEO's package last year was unchanged on the previous year.